Set 17 brings one of the most interesting mechanics we’ve had in TFT, and Graves is right at the center of it.
Instead of relying purely on items, Graves gains access to an armory after combat rounds, offering permanent upgrades that scale his power throughout the game.
Because of this, your decisions matter a lot more, the upgrades you choose can either turn him into an Attack Fighter or just a high DPS late game monster.
In this guide, I’ll walk through how Graves actually works, break down every armory upgrade, and show you which ones you should be taking depending on your spot while also showing you a few team comps that can play him.
Make sure to keep this Guide open to follow along in-game and so you can Choose the right upgrades and get yourself some LP!
Graves unique trait, Factory New, allows him to open an armory after participating in combat, offering permanent upgrades that scale his power throughout the game.
It’s important to find Graves early, ideally in Stage 4 or early Stage 5 because after every 3 upgrades, future upgrades will take an additional round to unlock. The earlier you start stacking upgrades, the higher your late game cap.
His armory is split into three different skill trees: Assault Frame, Power Frame, and Marksman Frame, each offering a completely different playstyle and upgrade path.
You can pick from each of the Skill Tree's throughout the game but if you choose to focus on one, you'll get more advanced choices which cost more money but will make graves significantly stronger.
Now let’s break down each skill tree and what they do.
Assault Frame
Assault Frame is the most unique option, transforming Graves into an Attack Fighter, this makes him
Reduce his attack range
Grants bonus HP, Omnivamp, and Attack Damage
Turns him into a frontline Carry
With this setup, you want to lean into a sustain heavy build, using items like Bloodthirster, Titan’s Resolve, and Sterak’s Gage. This makes Graves extremely tanky while still dealing consistent damage over time.
This tree is especially strong if:
You’re lacking frontline
You already have enough backline damage
As you continue down this path, future upgrades in this Skill Tree will reinforce this AD/Tank playstyle rather than pure DPS.
For example:
Leeching Implants → Grants additional AD and Omnivamp, increasing sustain
Sheer Mass → Gives bonus max HP and size, making him harder to kill
Shockwave → Deals % max HP magic damage and can stun enemies, adding utility and becoming even harder to kill
Overall, Assault Frame shifts Graves from a traditional carry into a drain tanking frontline threat that excels in extended fights.
Power Frame
The Power Frame makes Graves gain Precision, which allows his abilities to crit, while also increasing his ability damage. This transforms him into a backline carry capable of outputting massive damage.
With this setup, you can focus on AD/Crit items. You don’t need Infinity Edge, as Precision already grants ability crits. Items we recommend are Quicksilver, Hand of Justice and Striker's Flail.
When to choose Power Frame:
You’re lacking damage on your team
You have spare AD items
You want Graves to be one of your main damage dealers
The Power Frame Skill Tree comes with tons of damage and can make Graves become a high damage unit towards the later stages.
For example:
Tankbuster → Deals extra damage to tanks
Heartseeker → Grants crit chance and crit damage
AP Rounds → Attacks and abilities ignore a portion of enemy armor
Power Frame is ideal if you want Graves to deal heavy damage, especially in later stages, and if you have AD items available. It’s the go to choice when your team needs a high damage carry.
Marksman Frame
The Marksman Frame gives Graves a 20% chance to attack twice, significantly increasing his overall damage output. This is the most damage focused skill tree, making it ideal if you want Graves to be your primary carry.
With Marksman Frame you ideally want 3 damage items, and you can also build Guinsoo’s Rageblade as the attack speed can pair great with the attack twice buff, pair this with a giant slayer and a deathblade for a high damage build.
When to choose Marksman Frame:
You're lacking damage
Have optimal AD items for him
Need a main damage dealer
Marksman Frame skill tree can become even more insane and will make graves do even more damage.
For example:
Triple tap → Chance to attack thrice
Aim Assistant → Deal bonus damage per hex distance
Fragmentation Rounds → Attacks send Fragments to nearby enemies
Marksman Frame is the highest damage ceiling option for Graves. If you have the right items and need a hard carry unit, this is the best choice to maximize his DPS and carry potential.
We hope this guide has been helpful! be sure to visit our meta team comps page for full guides, and don't forget to download our in-game overlay to enhance your experience while you're playing.
